UFC 181: Hendricks vs Lawler II (12/6)

REDDzone · Post #1 » by **REDDzone** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 11:35 pm

Johny Hendricks (c) vs. Robbie Lawler
Anthony Pettis (c) vs. Gilbert Melendez
Travis Browne vs. Brendan Schaub
Holly Holm vs. Raquel Pennington
Tony Ferguson vs. Abel Trujillo
Corey Anderson vs. Gian Villante
Eddie Gordon vs. Josh Samman
Todd Duffee vs. Anthony Hamilton

cowboyronnie · Post #2 » by **cowboyronnie** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 3:11 am

Nuts. I loved the first JH/Robbie fight. Lawler is up there with DC for the best boxing movement in MMA.

When did the Weidman/Belfort fight get canceled? Just recently?

Melendez's smothering style, crude and wide and squared-up, is an interesting match-up against a kill-striker like Pettis.

Mehar · Post #3 » by **Mehar** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 4:29 am

cowboyronnie wrote:Nuts. I loved the first JH/Robbie fight. Lawler is up there with DC for the best boxing movement in MMA.

When did the Weidman/Belfort fight get canceled? Just recently?

Melendez's smothering style, crude and wide and squared-up, is an interesting match-up against a kill-striker like Pettis.

The Weidman-Belfort fight got cancelled today. Weidman has a broken hand, and the fight is delayed until February. Wish Weidman a speedy recovery.

http://www.mmafighting.com/2014/9/22/68 ... or-belfort

Post #4 » by **CPT** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 7:43 am

I shouldn't feel good about this, but I really wish there had been a way to bet against Weidman/Belfort and Pettis/Melendez happening on December 6. I knew there was a 0% chance of it happening.

I actually like this fight better. Seems like random overkill to have these two fights on the same card when so many cards are crap, but I guess I shouldn't complain when a card is actually too good.

Browne/Schaub is pretty good for a 3rd from the top fight. Is Schaub on enough of a roll that he could get a title shot with a win? Because that seems ridiculous.

Bernman · Post #5 » by **Bernman** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 3:42 pm

You probably wouldn't have gotten better than 1:2/3 odds for it.

I'm betting myself you thought that primarily due to Pettis, but ironically I thought he had the least chance of pulling out of the 4. He stands to lose the most because they would probably strip him of the title, and the whole idea that you shouldn't count your chickens b4 they hatch on a Pettis fight is short-sighted. At this point in his Zuffa career he's still only pulled out of a whole 2 of 13/14 scheduled matches. He got forcibly removed from a 3rd, but that's hardly applicable when he fought 4 weeks later and they'd have a much higher threshold with him now champ instead of contender. They can't easily afford to lose him from this fight either.

But they are probably thinking like you about his injury situation, and that explains why it's not random overkill to have two title fights on the same card. They don't think he's a reliable headliner. I get it, but I disagree for the reasons I said.

REDDzone · Post #6 » by **REDDzone** » Wed Sep 24, 2014 12:54 pm

cowboyronnie wrote:Melendez's smothering style, crude and wide and squared-up, is an interesting match-up against a kill-striker like Pettis.

How would you critique that one?

I have a bad habit of underating GM.

REDDzone · Post #7 » by **REDDzone** » Wed Sep 24, 2014 12:57 pm

Bernman wrote:You probably wouldn't have gotten better than 1:2/3 odds for it.

I'm betting myself you thought that primarily due to Pettis, but ironically I thought he had the least chance of pulling out of the 4. He stands to lose the most because they would probably strip him of the title, and the whole idea that you shouldn't count your chickens b4 they hatch on a Pettis fight is short-sighted. At this point in his Zuffa career he's still only pulled out of a whole 2 of 13/14 scheduled matches. He got forcibly removed from a 3rd, but that's hardly applicable when he fought 4 weeks later and they'd have a much higher threshold with him now champ instead of contender. They can't easily afford to lose him from this fight either.

But they are probably thinking like you about his injury situation, and that explains why it's not random overkill to have two title fights on the same card. They don't think he's a reliable headliner. I get it, but I disagree for the reasons I said.

I feel like people associate the ridiculously long layoff that he is currently on with him being injured, when in reality TUF has been a huge part of that.

Admittedly though, the dude has been injured a lot. Hell I've heard him talk like if the fight weren't against Benson and weren't in Milwaukee, he wouldn't have even fought last summer.

Post #8 » by **CPT** » Wed Sep 24, 2014 1:42 pm

Wasn't all about Pettis. Weidman and Belfort have their problems as well. Gil doesn't seem injury prone, but all 4 of those guys staying healthy was just never going to happen.

cowboyronnie · Post #9 » by **cowboyronnie** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 1:54 pm

REDDzone wrote:
cowboyronnie wrote:Melendez's smothering style, crude and wide and squared-up, is an interesting match-up against a kill-striker like Pettis.

How would you critique that one?

I have a bad habit of underating GM.

I don't see how Gil has a chance on the feet. Pettis is amazing at throwing kick counters while keeping his boxing guard tight. And he's pushed some really tough dudes backwards with those body kicks. Melendez rears back for telegraphed, pushed punches and Anthony drives kicks under that elbow.

REDDzone · Post #10 » by **REDDzone** » Fri Oct 10, 2014 12:10 am

Updated OP.

I love love love this card.

Ferguson vs Abel Trujillo will be bananas.
Holly Holm will face Raquel Pennington.

cowboyronnie · Post #11 » by **cowboyronnie** » Fri Oct 10, 2014 12:19 am

I think Tony is a contender and will make quick work of Trujillo.

cowboyronnie · Post #12 » by **cowboyronnie** » Fri Oct 10, 2014 12:19 am

Todd Duffee??

cowboyronnie · Post #13 » by **cowboyronnie** » Fri Oct 10, 2014 12:23 am

Oh ****, Holly Holm!!! Pennington is that tattooed little tank, yeah? Tight boxing guard, chin tucked...she's the perfect style for Holm to work over.

REDDzone · Post #14 » by **REDDzone** » Fri Oct 10, 2014 12:23 am

cowboyronnie wrote:I think Tony is a contender and will make quick work of Trujillo.

It sucks because Tony is in the EXACT mold of the type of dude I love to watch fight.

But I can't get over how he was on tuf, just too douchey, and it wasn't even doucheyness because I can get over that, it just revealed him as a terrible human being.

Post #15 » by **CPT** » Fri Oct 10, 2014 5:36 am

Those are two fantastic additions.

I wouldn't complain if they added more fights at that level, but those top 5 fights would make a great main card as is.

They might want one more name-ish fight to be the prelim main event.

With two five rounders on the slate (especially ones that have a decent chance of going the distance), do they go with a four fight main card?

Post #16 » by **lilfishi22** » Mon Oct 13, 2014 11:28 pm

That's a solid fight card. The type of card I expected Overeem to get on for name value.

Varejao17 · Post #17 » by **Varejao17** » Tue Oct 14, 2014 12:52 pm

Will Todd Duffee ever be the same after that violent gnp shot he received from Mike Russow?

REDDzone · Post #18 » by **REDDzone** » Tue Oct 14, 2014 1:20 pm

Varejao17 wrote:Will Todd Duffee ever be the same after that violent gnp shot he received from Mike Russow?

I know you are kidding, but after hearing him describe the nerve issues/damage he has now, I really don't think he will ever be the same.

SDM · Post #19 » by **SDM** » Tue Oct 14, 2014 1:30 pm

Why's he kidding?

Duffee's kids are going to be feeling that blow.

SDM · Post #20 » by **SDM** » Tue Oct 14, 2014 1:31 pm

Also, Holly Holm looks amazing in yoga pants.